UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Dana Black
- May 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Introduction
UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana took place on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was Amanda Nunes's final UFC fight — a dominant five-round unanimous-decision win over Irene Aldana followed by an in-cage retirement announcement that closed the most decorated women's championship career in UFC history. The card produced an estimated 500,000 pay-per-view buys.
Nunes retained the bantamweight title with clean striking and grappling across all five rounds. Final scorecards: 49-46, 49-46, 49-46. In the cage immediately after, Nunes announced her retirement: "I'm done. I'm a champion. My wife and my daughter are waiting for me. Thank you."
The co-main was Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush at lightweight. Oliveira submitted Dariush via rear-naked choke at 2:57 of round two, confirming his return to the lightweight title contender picture after his UFC 280 arm-triangle loss to Makhachev.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
📍 Venue: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
👥 Attendance: 18,818 (full capacity)
💰 Gate: $5.9 million
📺 PPV Buys: ~500,000
📡 Broadcast: Pay-per-view (ESPN+ in USA)
🏆 Main Event: Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Irene Aldana — UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship (135 lbs)
✅ Result: Nunes def. Aldana via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
🥇 Co-Main: Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush via Submission (rear-naked choke) — R2, 2:57 — Lightweight
The Build-Up
Amanda Nunes had reclaimed the bantamweight title at UFC 277 in July 2022. She had publicly stated UFC 289 would be her final fight. Irene Aldana was 14-7, ranked #4 in the division. Nunes was a -500 favourite.
Main Event: Nunes vs. Aldana
Nunes controlled all five rounds. She used her boxing to control distance through round one, scored a takedown at 3:30, and finished on top. Aldana's combination striking was sharp but too infrequent. Final scorecards: 49-46, 49-46, 49-46.
In the cage immediately after, Amanda Nunes announced her retirement. She was joined by her wife Nina Ansaroff and their daughter Raegan at center cage. Rogers Arena gave her a standing ovation. She finished her career 23-5 at age 35 — the most decorated women's championship career in UFC history.
Co-Main Event: Oliveira vs. Dariush
Round one: Oliveira's volume striking and clinch work controlled the distance; he scored a takedown at 3:30. Round two ended at 2:57 — Oliveira took Dariush's back at 2:15 and locked in a tight rear-naked choke. Dariush tapped at 2:57. Oliveira was back in the lightweight title picture.
Full Results
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Amanda Nunes (c) def. Irene Aldana — Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) — Women's Bantamweight Title (Nunes's final UFC fight)
Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush — Submission (rear-naked choke) — R2, 2:57 — Lightweight
Eryk Anders def. Marc-Andre Barriault — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Middleweight
Mike Malott def. Adam Fugitt — TKO (punches) — R1, 4:27 — Welterweight
Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Featherweight
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Chris Weidman def. Bruno Silva — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Middleweight
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Miranda Maverick — Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) — Women's Flyweight
Aiemann Zahabi def. Jonathan Martinez — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Bantamweight
Bonuses & Awards
🥇 Performance of the Night: Amanda Nunes — $50,000 for the dominant unanimous-decision win to close her UFC career as champion.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Charles Oliveira — $50,000 for the second-round rear-naked choke submission of Beneil Dariush.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Mike Malott — $50,000 for the first-round TKO of Adam Fugitt.
Records & Milestones
• Amanda Nunes retired as the most decorated woman in UFC history: 23-5, six UFC title reigns across bantamweight and featherweight.
• First UFC women's bantamweight champion to retire as champion — Nunes left with the belt on her terms.
• Charles Oliveira's submission of Beneil Dariush — his 22nd career UFC finish, extending the all-time UFC finishing record.
• UFC's first major PPV card in Vancouver — Rogers Arena hosted the most culturally significant UFC night in Canadian history.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 289 is remembered as Amanda Nunes's farewell — the night the greatest women's UFC champion of all time retired in the cage as champion at age 35. Her in-cage retirement announcement, flanked by her wife and daughter at the center of the Rogers Arena octagon, was one of the most emotionally resonant UFC moments of 2023.
Nunes's UFC career spanned 2013 to 2023. Her 23-5 career record, six title reigns, and wins over every major women's bantamweight and featherweight champion of her era are the gold standard for women's combat sports achievement. The Pena loss at UFC 269 was the only blemish of her seven-year championship run.
For Charles Oliveira, the submission of Dariush reestablished his title-contender status. He went on to fight Makhachev in a rematch at UFC 302 in June 2024 (submission R5 loss).
FAQ
Is Nunes the GOAT of women's MMA?
By most measures, yes. Six UFC title reigns, wins over Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, and Julianna Pena, and a 23-5 career record at retirement at age 35. No other women's MMA fighter's career achievements come close.
What happened to the bantamweight title after Nunes retired?
The UFC named Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant title, with Pennington winning by UD at UFC 297 in January 2024. Pena won the title from Pennington at Noche UFC in September 2024. The post-Nunes bantamweight era has been contested by Pena, Pennington, and a new generation of contenders.
Did Oliveira get another title shot after UFC 289?
Yes — at UFC 302 in June 2024. He challenged Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title and lost via fifth-round submission. He later lost to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October 2024 (KO R1) and to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 312 in February 2025 (UD).
How does UFC 289 compare to UFC 288?
UFC 289 drew approximately 500,000 PPV buys versus UFC 288 (550,000) four weeks earlier. UFC 289 compensated in cultural significance: it was the night the most-decorated women's UFC champion of all time retired on her terms.
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